Hawks Complete Perfect Pre-Season
In their final tune-up before the regular season, the West Yorkshire Hawks delivered a 83-67 win over Bolton at the University of Huddersfield. The victory closed out a strong pre-season campaign, showcasing the Hawks’ depth and ability to control both ends of the floor.
The Hawks wasted no time asserting themselves in the first quarter, establishing an early rhythm and finishing the period with a 5-point lead. It was a controlled and composed effort and the team looking fluid in half-court sets. Defensively, the Hawks were disciplined, limiting Bolton to contested shots and slowing down their transition offense.
Hawks ramped up the pressure in the second quarter, turning defense into offense and finding success in transition. Fast breaks and early offense helped the Hawks extend their lead to 42-27 by halftime. The pace was driven by key contributions from Charles Andrews and Chris Jackman, giving the Hawks easy looks at the rim.
After a sluggish first half, Bolton showed some fight coming out of the half time break. A mix of Hawks’ complacency and Bolton’s improved execution allowed them to chip away at the deficit, narrowing the lead to 13 by the end of the third quarter.
The Hawks regained their focus in the final quarter, reverting to the formula that had built their earlier lead—solid defensive stops and transition buckets. The Hawks closed the game on a comfortable note, securing the 83-67 victory.
Rob Donaldson led all scorers with 18 points, while Charles Andrews and Chris Jackman added 15 points each. Chris Sibbett contributed 11 points, and Jermayne Laing posted 10.
Hawks head coach was pleased with the team’s overall performance but acknowledged areas for improvement. “It is good to close out the preseason preparations with another win. It wasn’t our best performance, but Bolton can take credit for that as they made it difficult for us in phases of the game. I am excited to see the steps that the team are taking each week and how they are coming together ahead of the season opener next weekend,” he said post-game.
The Hawks now enter their final week of pre-season preparations before opening their season in Stockport against the Falcons next Sunday. Fans won’t have to wait long to see their team on home court, with the Hawks hosting the second round of the National Cup on Sunday 6th October. Tip-off is at 5 PM, and tickets are available here https://tktp.as/EJPKVB.